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Achilles and Patroclus don’t have a fireplace, so they do the next best thing. They put on a fake fireplace Youtube video. It even crackles. It’s idiotic but they do it every year, without fail.
Achilles pulls a blanket from the couch as he passes by on the way to the kitchen. He then wraps it over his shoulders. It’s an oversized one with a red and black plaid pattern. It’s supposed to be their “Christmas” one, but Achilles keeps it out all winter.
“Almost done?” Achilles asks as he comes up behind Patroclus.
Pat’s at the stove, flipping pancakes. Every year he makes pancakes for Christmas morning. It’s always fun, since he makes two separate bowls– one with red food dye mixed in, and one with green.
“Patience darling,” Patroclus chuckles.
Achilles doesn’t listen, as usual, and leans his head against Pat’s shoulderblade.
“Do you know if Zagreus is awake?” Pat asks.
“I heard him stirring,” Achilles answers, voice muffled by Pat’s shirt.
If Pat wasn’t cooking, he’d wrap the blanket around him too, making a little two-person cocoon. But he’s done it before, and got pancake batter on the blanket, so he doesn’t. Pat seems to sense this though, and reaches behind to pat Achilles’ hip. Achilles hums contentedly, letting his eyes slip shut.
One would think that at his age, he would be able to sleep easily on Christmas night. That is not true, much to Patroclus’ amusement. Pat can sleep like the dead, while Achilles is quite the opposite. It took him far longer than it normally does to fall asleep last night. He wasn’t quite as eager for his own gifts under the tree– he was excited for Zagreus’.
When Pat was putting up the tree shortly after Thanksgiving, Zagreus had commented that it’d been a long time since he’s truly celebrated the holiday. The younger man doesn’t talk much about his past, but Achilles and Patroclus know enough. There was a slow decline in Zagreus’ childhood, where his surrogate mother Nyx made an effort to be a good parent. But as her own children grew older, she stopped trying as much. It unfortunately left Zagreus out, so it’s been some years since he’s even remotely celebrated the holiday.
Because of that, Achilles and Patroclus went all out this year. There’s more presents than normal under the tree, which is beautifully decorated with ornaments the couple have collected over the years. The house is decorated inside and out, with at least two pine-scented candles burning. It’s certainly festive, and the two can’t wait to see Zagreus’ reaction.
A yawn catches both of their attentions.
Achilles perks up, and Pat glances over his shoulder.
Zagreus is standing by the couch, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He’s looking around the room, eyes drifting from the fake fireplace video to the presents tucked under the tree. His eyes glow in the warm light, and he cracks a smile before turning to face the two.
“Good morning,” he says, voice still rough from sleep.
“Merry Christmas,” Pat replies. He’s smiling too, handsome as can be. Even with bedhead. “Just in time. Breakfast is almost ready.”
Zagreus’ smile grows brighter. He comes over and helps Achilles set the table.
Christmas is the only day of the year where Pat allows the dishes to sit on the table. Achilles will always pull him away the second they’re done eating so they can open gifts. Pat stopped putting up a fight years ago, but it still pretends to roll his eyes and lets himself be pulled away.
This year is no exception of course, but now there is Zagreus to help Achilles. Together, the two drag Patroclus to the couch. Achilles tosses his blanket over his husband’s lap, forcing him to settle in. Zagreus sits down by the tree, legs crossed.
“So… what order do we open…?” Zagreus asks, looking over the pile of presents. It’s a modest one, about a handful for each person.
“We usually alternate,” Pat replies. “I suppose we can just go in a circle? Achilles can start.”
Zagreus nods. He decides he’ll be the one passing out the gifts, and gets to it.
The first few are small things. Zagreus gets a small blanket. Achilles gets a sturdy pair of gardening gloves. Patroclus gets a cookbook from another Youtube baker. They all get various treats too– Christmas chocolates and sweets.
Zagreus spies a big box tucked between the tree and the wall. He scoots over, sliding it out from its spot. He reads the label. To Zagreus, from Achilles and Pat, in Pat’s beautiful, looping handwriting. He glances over at the couple, who are watching with barely contained excitement. It only makes him more nervous. The box is the largest by far; it’s tall and wide and only half a foot thick.
He brings it back over to his previous spot, then he hesitates. It’s heavy, and nothing shifts inside, giving no indication what it is.
“Go on,” Achilles says eagerly. “You’re going to love it.”
Zagreus’ eyebrows furrow, and he glances up at them one last time. Then he slides his thumb under the paper, and takes the first rip. The paper tears down the side of the box, but doesn’t give anything away. He only gets more confused, and then tears it across the front of the box.
He exhales shakily as the front is revealed.
It’s a computer monitor, one that’s at least a few hundred dollars.
Zagreus’ eyes suddenly burn with unshed tears. “Oh… my god.”
Achilles and Patroclus share a thrilled look. They’ve had this plan since early November.
Since Zagreus moved in, he’s just been editing off his laptop. It makes work far more tedious since he only has a small screen to work off of. Pat did his research– this one should easily connect to his laptop.
Zagreus sniffles, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
“You don’t…” he starts, unsure of where he’s even going. “You didn’t need to spend…”
“We wanted to,” Pat says.
“You’ve already done so much,” Zagreus’ voice is getting watery now.
It’s impossible to stop the tears as they begin to fall. He didn’t want to cry today. He knew that he might, considering just how kind and generous Achilles and Pat have been to him these past few months. But he was hoping he wouldn’t, since today’s supposed to be a happy day. Don’t get him wrong, he’s still happy, but it’s overwhelming to know just how much they’ve done for him. The monitor…
Achilles pushes the blanket off his lap, and sinks to the floor. He reaches out, taking Zagreus’ hand. Pat joins him seconds later, and the two pull Zagreus in for a hug. Zagreus quietly cries, hiding his face in Achilles’ chest.
“I love it,” he murmurs. “Thank you so much.”
“Of course,” Pat replies softly. He scoots closer to truly crush Zagreus in a hug.
Zagreus laughs a little. He raises his head, smiling brightly despite the tears on his cheeks.
“This is the best Christmas I’ve had,” he says with a sniffle.
They all share a smile, then lean back in to the hug.
“Same for us,” Achilles murmurs.
“Absolutely,” Patroclus agrees without hesitation.